Rebirth: Making a Fortune in Ancient Times

Footsteps approached, and from Zhang Youtie's angle, all he could see was the moon-white hem of a robe embroidered with shimmering auspicious cloud patterns. He simply thought it was beautiful, and couldn't describe it any further. The person walked up and sat down in the main seat.

"Manager Ding, quickly help this gentleman up and offer him a seat," Shen Jingheng instructed Manager Ding, who was standing beside him with his head bowed.

"Yes," he said, stepping forward to help Zhang Youtie up and leading him to a chair nearby.

"I just tasted some watermelon from your family's garden, brother. It was very sweet. I was thinking of taking some with me to the capital. But I wonder how long our watermelons can be stored?" After saying this, seeing that Zhang Youtie was still standing, he offered him a seat again, and Zhang Youtie sat down cautiously.

"Reporting to Your Excellency, once a watermelon is cut open, it must be eaten on the same day and cannot be kept overnight. Uncut watermelons should be fine for seven days. I don't know about longer, as my family has never tried it."

"Oh, I see. I wonder how you grew this watermelon? I've never seen this kind of fruit in the capital. It's obviously not from here. Where did you get the seeds from?" Shen Jingheng asked Zhang Youtie as if it were a casual conversation, his tone very gentle.

Xia Yu and his family had already discussed this issue before they brought the melons out to sell, so Zhang Youtie simply said what they had agreed on at home.

“Once, when I came to the county town to buy things, I met a monk begging for alms on the way. My children gave him two of the cornbread buns we had brought. Before leaving, the monk gave me a small packet of seeds, saying that he had obtained them during his travels and that they were useless to him, so he gave them to us. My wife and daughter took them home and planted them in the backyard. I didn’t think much of it and completely forgot about it. But a few days ago, a watermelon suddenly appeared in the house and I was given a bite to eat. That’s when I realized that it was grown from the seeds the monk had given me.” He scratched his head sheepishly as he spoke.

Shen Jingheng remained silent upon hearing this, his gaze fixed intently on Zhang Youtie's drooping head, as if assessing the truth of his words. Just when Zhang Youtie felt that gaze was about to burn a hole in his head, the voice rang out again.

How many watermelons are left at home?

"We still have over a hundred top-quality melons weighing more than twenty pounds each at home, and I haven't counted the regular-sized ones. However, we just sold over forty of the top-quality melons to another gentleman's residence," Zhang Youtie answered honestly.

"Alright, the rest of the melons, regardless of size, will be taken by the Shen family. Should I send a cart to pick them up?"

"My lord, my family only has one oxcart. If you are not in a hurry, I can deliver it in batches."

Hearing him say that, Shen Jingheng looked at Steward Ding beside him and said, "I'm leaving this matter to you. Arrange a time with this brother and send someone to bring it back."

"Yes, sir, I will certainly do my best! Please rest assured."

Shen Jingheng looked at Zhang Youtie, who was sitting with his head bowed in the chair, his buttocks barely touching the edge of the chair. He knew that these peasants were always afraid of officials. So he instructed Steward Ding, "Give this brother ten taels of silver. First, to thank him for growing such delicious food, and second, to thank him for waiting here for so long. Give it to him along with my mother's reward."

"Yes, sir," Steward Ding bowed respectfully, responding to his master's instructions. Zhang Youtie, observing Steward Ding's demeanor, couldn't help but inwardly gasp. Outside, he was the object of many people's flattery, but within the Shen household, Steward Ding was merely a servant. For the first time, Zhang Youtie personally experienced the stark hierarchy, and at that moment, he understood why the old man had poured the entire family's resources into supporting his fourth brother's education for the imperial examinations.

Following Steward Ding's example, the two left the small hall. Steward Ding led Zhang Youtie to the accounting office to collect the eleven taels of silver his master had bestowed upon him. He then inquired about the price of the watermelons, learning they were fifty copper coins per jin (a unit of weight in China). He silently calculated the approximate weight of each watermelon and ultimately paid Zhang Youtie one tael of silver per watermelon. Zhang Youtie was about to refuse, saying he didn't need so much money, when Steward Ding waved him off.

When seeing Zhang Youtie off, Steward Ding asked for Zhang Youtie's address, and the two finally agreed to pick up watermelons the day after tomorrow morning.

At the side gate, Granny Qian was annoyed by the pacing pork dragon and said somewhat displeasedly...

"Pork Dragon, stop shaking! You're making this old woman dizzy. The old man just wants him to go in and ask a couple of questions, nothing will happen!"

“Grandma Qian, I can’t help but worry. My brother is an honest farmer. I’m afraid he might say something wrong and upset the master of the house.”

"No, our master is very kind-hearted and rarely gets angry with the servants. Besides, you're just here to sell something." As the two were talking, they heard voices coming from inside the side gate. Judging from the voices, it was Steward Ding and Zhang Youtie.

Upon seeing the two emerge, Pork Dragon hurriedly approached them with a fawning smile.

"Manager Ding, my brother here didn't say anything wrong, did he?"

"No, actually I should thank you, Pork Dragon. Bringing this brother to me today has really been a great help." Saying this, he took out a small silver ingot, about one tael in size, and handed it to Pork Dragon.

"This is a gift from Madam, and I must thank you too," he said, even clasping his hands in a gesture of respect before bowing to Pork Dragon. Startled, Pork Dragon quickly jumped back, grabbing Steward Ding's arm and stammering, "No, no, Steward Ding, you're making me feel terrible!"

Steward Ding wasn't really going to pay his respects; he simply straightened up, going along with the man's lead. After confirming Zhang Youtie's address, he turned and entered the Shen residence through the side gate.

On an oxcart.

"Hey brother, have you seen Master Shen?" Pork Dragon asked curiously.

"I did see him, but I didn't dare to look up," Zhang Youtie said somewhat embarrassedly.

"So what? If it were me, I probably wouldn't dare to look up either. I might even get a leg cramp! Hahahaha," Pork Dragon said casually, but it has to be said that he was right.

Zhang Youtie looked at the laughing pork dragon next to him and thought, "..."

"I'm not trying to be rude, brother, you're really my lucky star! Look, I even got a tael of silver as a reward." As he spoke, he took out the brand-new one-tael silver ingot and rubbed it in his hand.

"Brother, I should be thanking you. Not only did I receive a reward today, but I also managed to sell all the watermelons at home. If it weren't for your introduction, I would still be selling watermelons piece by piece at the market." After saying that, he glanced at the pork dragon next to him. "Brother, if you don't mind, I would like to become sworn brothers with you. I wonder if you think that's feasible?"

"Great! That's exactly what I was thinking. I was worried that you might look down on me because I'm a butcher. Thank you for not minding my situation. Shall we become sworn brothers tomorrow?" Pork Dragon was overjoyed when Zhang Youtie brought up the sworn brotherhood they had discussed on the way. He immediately agreed to set a time.

"Okay, big brother."

Because the trip had taken quite a while, the two of them were talking, but their hands were still moving the oxcart without any delay.

It was already past late afternoon when they returned to the market. Since Xia Yu's home was far away, they had to hurry back, otherwise they would have to walk through the night. The Pork Dragon couple helped Xia Yu's family pack all their things, and after agreeing to meet at Pork Dragon's house the next day to discuss the sworn brotherhood between Zhang Youtie and Pork Dragon, they watched Zhang Youtie's family leave.